aloft brand plans Indian double debut

21 December 2007

Starwood has announced that aloft hotels will partner with Urbanedge Hotels Private Limited, a joint venture between Citigroup Property Investors and Auromatrix Hotels Private Limited, to develop aloft hotels across India. The brand’s first two hotels to open in India will be aloft Bangalore, Whitefield and aloft Chennai, OMR - Sholinganallur.

“Its exotic landscapes, rich cultural heritage and booming economy make India one of the world’s most vibrant markets and a perfect match for the energy and vitality of aloft hotels,” Brian McGuinness, Vice President of aloft and element hotels. “We’re thrilled to bring a bold new lodging alternative to the ‘land for all seasons’ with the arrival of our two new aloft hotels in Bangalore and Chennai.”

Starwood has been quick to respond to India’s increased need for lodging, driven by the country’s brisk economic growth. In the past year, Starwood has aggressively expanded its footprint in this fast-growing market, signing deals to open new hotels in markets throughout India across several of its brands including two new Sheratons, three new Westins and these two new aloft hotels. Starwood now offers a total of seven hotels in India, including properties already in operation as well as those under development.

Developers in India have expressed a keen interest in aloft hotels, particularly in newly developing sub-markets in both major urban centers and secondary cities. In response, Starwood has tailored aloft to meet the needs of the Indian market by including an all-day dining restaurant and more space for meetings.

“We are excited to introduce aloft to India and look forward to offering visitors a fresh, fun and inspiring atmosphere,” said Miguel Ko, President Asia Pacific, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. “Our key development partners have assisted us in refining our prototype and signature features to create a product that travelers to aloft in India will love.”

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aloft Bangalore, Whitefield

aloft Bangalore, Whitefield will provide visitors with an exciting new alternative to current lodging options when it opens in 2010. Facilities will include 170 rooms, a large restaurant and more than 8,500 square feet of meeting space. The hotel will be located in Whitefield, Bangalore, one of the city’s two major clusters of Information Technology industries, home to several IT parks and an export promotion zone. Bangalore is the capital of the state of Karnataka and is often referred to as the “Silicon Valley” of India.

aloft Chennai, OMR - Sholinganallur

Also scheduled to open in 2010, the 140-room aloft Chennai, OMR - Sholinganallur will be located on the Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR), the hub for IT development in Chennai. The hotel will also offer over 5,000 square feet of meeting space and a restaurant. The city of Chennai is located on the east coast of India and is the capital of Tamil Nadu. Traditionally, an important automobile manufacturing center, Chennai has become a leading destination for software development and business process outsourcing in recent years.——-